Alexander Isak isn't the only notable absentee as Newcastle United name 29-man squad for pre-season tour of Asia
All the headlines today in the Newcastle United-centred, and let's be honest, Liverpool-centred media are going to be about Alexander Isak's exclusion from the squad that travelled to Singapore today.
We can speculate all we like about the real reasons for Isak staying behind, and we have, and will continue to do so until we get an interview with the man himself where he clearly sets out his intentions - so as that's never going to happen, all we can do is guess.
However, Isak wasn't the only man left behind, sparking transfer rumours in his wake, or lack thereof.
Eddie Howe has named a 29-man squad for the upcoming friendly against Arsenal on Saturday in Singapore, and while he's named five goalkeepers in that squad, one of them is not Martin Dubravka.
Eddie Howe named five goalkeepers in his squad for the Asia tour
Youngster Max Thompson and what-even-is-the-point-man, Odysseas Vlachodimos, have made the cut, but there's no place for our No. 2 stopper.
Dubravka has had one foot out of the door for a while, but his superb form last season, covering for Nick Pope, made Eddie Howe change his mind, and he begged him to stay on.
However, it's still believed that if any goalkeeper is to leave this summer, it will be Dubravka, but it will also be dependent on a new arrival, namely James Trafford, coming in.
Could Martin Dubravka be heading to Burnley in a James Trafford swap deal?
Newcastle's chances of signing Trafford are on thin ice to say the least, with Manchester City holding all the cards on that front, but as we reported last night, there is a scenario where Trafford comes to Newcastle and Dubravka goes to Burnley. So with Dubravka staying behind, is this moving closer?
Again, Manchester City could offer Stefan Ortega to match the deal as Burnley has interest in both, but either way, it makes sense to have Dubravka on standby should the deal progress.
This is, of course, pure speculation in the absence of any solid explanation for Dubravka's absence, but today feels like the day for wild theories, doesn't it?
